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Monday, November 19, 2012

Roasted Red Pepper Loaf



Who loves cheese? And spinach? And roasted red peppers? And bread?

Hopefully you said "YES" to all of these questions! 
If you did, do I have a GREAT surprise (well not really a surprise since you've already seen the photos...but oh well!)

I introduce... 
Roasted Red Pepper Loaf! 
It combines spinach (doesn't add much flavor, but a whoooole lotta moistness), roasted red peppers (which add a great bite), and mozzarella (sooo much depth!) with bread-and really what about bread is bad?

Nothing. That's what. 

So-onto the recipe!


INGREDIENTS:
3 1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup mozzarella
5 oz. cooked spinach
1/2 cups lukewarm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 bell peppers (roasted)
1 tsp. sugar (or the equivalence)

DIRECTIONS: 
1. Proof yeast - add 1 pkg. (2 1/4 tsp.) fast acting (aka quick rise) yeast to 1/2 cup warm water. Let sit a few minutes - if bubbles form, your yeast is good to go!


2. In the meantime... you can get started prepping your lovely bread add-ins
 (these may seem quite lengthy and not worth the hassle...but believe me-when you bite into a warm, soft and moist piece of this bread, you will be glad you went through the 'trouble')

-For the spinach: if you do not buy the frozen pre-cooked and shredded kind you will need to do this yourself. For fresh spinach leaves: bring water to a boil and throw in a handful of salt to flavor it. As this is heating-get a bowl of ice water ready. Toss in your 5 oz. of spinach (usually 1/2 a bag of spinach leaves) and allow the spinach to cook for 1-2 minutes. When the spinach becomes a bright green, it's done! As soon as it is done boiling, remove spinach leaves and place in ice water. After a few minutes here, drain, squeeze out ALL the water you possibly can and run a knife through the spinach a few times-or run through a food processor. 











-For the roasted peppers: Take 2 bell peppers (or any peppers, bell will provide a nice sweet flavor with a little bite!) wash them, and cut in half. Remove any seeds and the stem. Place skin side up on a baking sheet. Broil them in the oven on your highest setting (I had mine at 500*F) for a few minutes - they are done with the skin becomes blackened. Don't worry-you haven't burned them-this was suppose to happen! Remove immediately and place in a plastic bag, seal the bag and wait.... After about 10-20 minutes, you can remove the peppers from the bag, and the blackened skin should peel right off! Now all you have to do is chop the peppers into small pieces and you're done!








-For the cheese: remove from bag, measure out 1/3 cup, call it a day! 

3. After add-ins are ready and yeast is proofed, you will mix the add-ins into the water/yeast mixture and stir well. 


4. Add to a stand mixer (or larger bowl) and add in the sugar and salt

5. Slowly begin adding your flour. Knead for 6-8 minutes (4-6 with a stand mixing doing the kneading)

6. Dough will be slightly wet to the touch 

7. Place in a greased bowl and cover with a dry kitchen towel. Allow to rise until doubled - about 1-2 hours.

8. (If making an Artesian style loaf-if not, skip to the last half of step 9) Place a oven stone into an oven and set to 450*F. Place a cookie sheet on the lowest rack in oven as well.

9. When doubled, remove from bowl and shape into loaf - I made mine into a Artesian style loaf by forming a large ball and cutting an 'X' slit in the top. I then topped with more mozzarella cheese. But, if you'd rather-you can just form into a 9x5 loaf and place in a greased and floured loaf pan. Let this loaf rise 10-20 minutes.

...add cheese if you'd like! -and really, c'mon-who wouldn't like?!


10. Remove your oven stone from the oven and gently slide loaf onto its center. 

11. Pour 1 cup water onto the cookie sheet in oven. Place your oven stone with bread back into the oven. 

12. Let bake 30-40 minutes - crust will have a dark, golden color.

13. Remove from oven and remove from oven stone immediately - transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool before slicing. 


15 comments:

  1. That looks healthy and tasty. I might try this. Have a happy thanksgiving!

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    1. Why thank you! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving :)

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  2. That looks delicious, healthy and very pretty! I love all of the colors. I'll have to try it for the holidays.

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    1. Thank you! ...yes-the red and green colors would be PERFECT for Christmas, and everyone will love it! They won't even think it's healthy ;)

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  3. I love this!! I found your blog via "Creative Mondays Share Your Pose Blog Hop" and I am now following you. I'd love you to check out my blog sometime. xxx Rose from Milky Moles Makeup & Plus Size Musings

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    1. Thank you! :) I'll go check yours out! ...be sure to sign up for my giveaway on the Beanitos Review post!

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  4. What a great recipe. I am pinning now. This is definitely a winter time treat. I don't think I will even want to share it. Glad I saw you over at Jam Hands.

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  5. This looks SO good! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at "Try A New Recipe Tuesday!" I hope to see you again this week! :-)

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  6. You are so talented!! We hope you will come back this week. Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop. This weeks party starts at 12:01 A.M. on Wednesday and runs through Sunday night. Have a great week. Debi, Myrna and Joye (The Busy Bee's), Linda (Two Succulent Sisters).

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  8. Mmmm your loaf looks WONDERFUL! I love roasted red peppers, and love the idea of flavoring a loaf of bread with them! Sounds absolutely delicious!

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    1. Thank you! It is a really moist, flavorful bread :)

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  9. red peppers are one of my favs! looks scrumptious.

    hope you will find a moment to stop by and enter a giveaway i am hosting for followers (i hope you win!):
    http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2012/12/personalized-lovely-giveaway.html

    happy weekend to you!

    michele

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    1. I definitely will come over to your blog! And red peppers are a sweet spot for me too :)

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  10. I just love this Bread and can't wait to try it. Hope you have a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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Im listening...

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